WallStreetWeather.net Forecast For Week Of March 27, 2011

Updated at 7:49 March 28: Google's editor stripped out paragraph breaks and white space from my post so I had to go in and hard code the HTML.

NOTE: After four attempts I am unable at this time to figure out how to correct Blogger from deleting my page breaks in this post. I will see if I can fix it tomorrow.

Summary Of Last Week's Influences:

As the Sun conjoined Uranus following the Vernal Equinox, markets continued on the upward trajectory they began on March 17. The Dow gained 3.1% for the week, its biggest weekly percentage gain since July (see next section).

Geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East, a powerful earthquake/tsunami and the ensuing nuclear fallout with parts delays that are already affecting production at GM and Ford plants in the U.S., yet the market doesn’t seem to care. This shows that the real black swan is that the market is no longer shocked by their appearance, preferring to see any crisis as an opportunity to make money since the market has rebounded from all types of crisis in the past (although none were nuclear related).

Yet what should be taken as signs of caution is that the market has been rising on very low volume (Friday’s volume was the lowest so far this year). Margin debt has been rising since last summer and is now back to pre-crisis (July 2008) levels which means that if the market suddenly and sharply reverses, investors will have to sell what they can which will exacerbate any decline.

Summary Of This Week’s Influences:

Saturday’s Last Quarter Moon means that we have reached the “crisis in consciousness” phase of the current lunar cycle that began at the March 5 Pisces New Moon.(1) During this phase of the cycle existing issues and situations might not be working out as expected.

The influence of the Last Quarter Moon in Capricorn (March 26 – April 3) occurs at the same degree as the June 26, 2010 Lunar Eclipse. The major indices declined to their lowest levels of 2010 on July 2 over what was then called a “trifecta of worries” (European sovereign debt crisis spilling over into Spain and Portugal, signs of China’s slowing growth, and a stagnating U.S. recovery) that still linger.(2)

The Lunar Eclipse and the Last Quarter Moon conjoined Pluto in Capricorn which is barely moving now as from Earth’s viewpoint Pluto will appear to be motionless in the sky April 2-15 as it turns retrograde April 9. This makes Pluto’s intense energy more pronounced than normal.

Since Pluto rules nuclear power, it means that more attention will be focused on nuclear issues and particularly the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant which celebrated its 40th Birthday the day of the Last Quarter Moon. As described in my post about the plant’s “six personalities,” the situation differs from what is being presented. Pluto stations retrograde right on the plant’s natal Mars in Capricorn which is involved in a square to the Sun in Mars-ruled Aries and Uranus in Libra, increasing the potential for nuclear meltdown. Mars moving into Aries Saturday and conjoining explosive Uranus at next Sunday’s New Moon in Aries indicates time is rapidly running out for a breakthrough to avert a disaster. The highly radioactive puddles of water near the #2 reactor reflects the heavy water element emphasis I described and Mercury, Saturn (and possibly the Moon) in watery Cancer squaring Pluto.

Anything occult is part of Pluto’s domain but so are the sleuths determined to uncover what has been obscured and purposely kept hidden to come to the surface. Mercury in Aries turning retrograde later Wednesday afternoon until April 23 (scroll down) serves as a reminder to think things through before jumping into action. Combined with Pluto’s influence, the message is to intensely focus on what is being said because by doing so you also pick up what is not being said.

Using the Fukushima plant as an example since Mercury turns retrograde conjoining the plant’s progressed Mercury in Aries, the market zeroed in like a laser beam on the news that electricity was being hooked up to the plant.(3) But the world was not told how the electricity would be used. Turning on the lights is not the same as getting the cooling pumps to operate! With optimistic Jupiter in its home sign Sagittarius conjoining Neptune the planetary energy of illusions when the plant began operating, anything adverse is greatly glossed over and even falsified.

Of course Pluto presides over a lot of other things besides nuclear power such as power in general! With the Sun (self-identity) squaring Pluto on Monday, those in power will fight to maintain their grip on it. But Pluto in Capricorn indicates it’s time for Pluto to transform government, corporate, and societal structures that have become too corrupt and beholden to the plutocrats.

The Sun rules speculation, Pluto rules M&A, and the square relationship between the two motivates action which is why the Sun squaring Pluto tends to get the market excited about mergers or the potential for them. As the lord of the underworld, Pluto in Capricorn has boosted speculation in commodities mined from below the Earth’s surface (with a great deal of the boost fueled by rock bottom interest rates needed to make it feasible to hold physical commodities).

Congress returns from their spring recess Monday and must pass a budget agreement for the current fiscal year before midnight April 8 to avoid a government shutdown just hours before Pluto turns retrograde. The Last Quarter Moon conjoins the degree Mercury in Capricorn went retrograde December 10. Pluto rules taxes and as Mercury (legislation) and Mars (action) conjoined Pluto then, President Obama and Congressional leaders forged an agreement to extend the Bush tax cuts together with a temporary reduction in payroll taxes.

I’ve explained in previous posts that the U.S. was born when Mercury was retrograde which is why Congress seems to be more motivated to get busy and pass legislation when Mercury is retrograde. This retrograde period will be no exception since Mercury turns retrograde squaring the U.S. natal Mercury in Cancer and Mercury, Jupiter and the New Moon are in the sector representing Congress in the April 3 New Moon chart set for Washington DC. Events in Washington will be the central focus of attention over the next month but it appears that any meaningful budget reductions are more likely to get pushed into the future. Pluto rules debt and deficits; it appears likely that Congress will approve raising the debt ceiling without a battle despite pleas from the Tea Party.

While I’m on the subject of Congress, it’s been almost three months since the Republicans took control of the House. Despite their criticism of the Democrats not focusing enough on job creation, so far it appears that all of the bills proposed in the House are focused on turning the clock back to the Bush years by trying to repeal legislation and proposing legislation designed to appease social conservatives that has minuscule to zero cost savings and doesn’t stand a chance of getting enacted into law.

Jupiter opposing Saturn for the third and final time Monday reflects the vast philosophical and political difference that must be overcome in order for Republicans and Democrats to reach agreement on the budget. Republicans have done nothing but criticize Democrats and now comes the difficult part when they have to start unveiling their proposals. Holding hearings to examine legislation they want to repeal or to go after groups they believe are more aligned with Democrats could end up backfiring on them.

Take the healthcare legislation (Pluto rules insurance) that Republicans like to call “Obamacare.” CBO Director Elmendorf will testify Wednesday morning at a House hearing on the law’s effect on the budget and jobs. A Bloomberg analysis concludes that Republican alternatives to replace "Obamacare" would save less than $5 billion or 0.6% a year. That helps explain why Republicans are focused more on repeal rather than replace. On Friday the House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee will hold a hearing on AARP’s organizational structure and finances which is a bit bizarre as this could affect the Republicans “free market” friend United Healthcare (UNH) who insures AARP’s Medigap and Medicare Advantage policies which AARP receives royalties from. (According to The Hill, total royalties from Medigap, Medicare Advantage, and other insurance products account for 57%+ of AARP’s $1.14 billion 2008 revenue or $653 million vs. $249 million from memberships.)

Pluto rules mortgages, and 9 out of 10 of them are either owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae (FNM) and Freddie Mac (FRE) who arrived at the subprime party much later than Wall Street. Fannie and Freddie would actually be profitable now if they weren’t required to pay a 10% dividend on preferred shares owned by the government. (In other words, Fan & Fred have to borrow from the government to repay the government a dividend instituted when the GSEs were taken into Conservatorship when Pluto turned direct September 8, 2008.) The House Financial Services subcommittee will be holding a hearing Thursday on the “ongoing bailout.” Although there are various plans about what to do about the GSEs, both parties seem to agree on the ultimate goal that if Fan & Fred are to continue to guarantee mortgages there must at least enough fees levied on mortgages to cover the risk.

Speaking of mortgages, FINREG (Dodd-Frank bill) requires that securitizers maintain at least 5% of the credit risk to have “skin in the game.” Wall St. will be eager to know what qualifies as a “safe” mortgage and therefore exempt from the risk retention requirement. Since Pluto rules death, wills and legacies are also part of Pluto’s domain. As part of the Dodd-Frank bill, the FDIC is expected to issue a proposal this week giving guidelines for large banks and other institutions deemed a systemic risk to draw up living wills.

Venus (money/banking; love) entered Pisces Sunday morning until April 21 which helps us to have love and compassion for ourselves and for others. At the other end of the spectrum, Venus in Pisces can bring out of the closet more cases of insider trading, scams, scandals, and credit card fraud.

Jupiter opposite Saturn can highlight imbalances in the global supply chain that prompts companies to manufacture at home or closer to home. Optimistic Jupiter in impatient Aries believes Japan can quickly recover from the earthquake/tsunami as if there wasn’t a nuclear problem. Slower and cautious Saturn indicates that things take time to have an impact in the supply chain that extends to the supplier's supplier.

The Moon (sentiment) in Uranus-ruled Aquarius Monday through late Wednesday afternoon increases the potential for unexpected events that can bring choppy trading and reversals.

Mercury turning retrograde Wednesday afternoon as the Moon conjoins Neptune at the end of Aquarius can create confusion regarding what’s really going on as communications coming out now could “cloud” the real issue. Remember to put the re prefix in front of everything you do. There will be a definite energy shift during the retrograde cycle when Mars enters its home sign Aries Saturday. The Aries New Moon on April 3 is the time to take new action on existing issues. In the USA, Mercury turns retrograde in the sector of the chart that is Pluto’s natural domain which reinforces the Pluto themes I’ve described.

The Moon will be in Pisces Thursday and Friday which is April Fool’s Day. Be aware of trickery and deception. The employment report is likely to continue to show slow but steady improvement in jobs. Mercury retrograde could the report is more prone to major revisions.

Monday, March 28, 2011 Negative.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011 Choppy/mixed to positive bias.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011 Negative.

Thursday, March 31, 2011 Seesaws between negative and positive; mixed close.

Friday, April 1, 2011 Positive.

(1)A termed coined by Dane Rudhyar in “The Lunation Cycle.”

(2) Markets began to sharply reverse when Uranus turned retrograde July 5 as the first whiffs of another round of monetary stimulus began drifting into the atmosphere.

(3) A mathematical calculation that moves the planets forward in time as a method of prediction.

WallStreetWeather.net Forecast For The Week Of March 20, 2011

Mercury in Aries conjoining Jupiter and opposing Saturn last week served as a preview of the Jupiter/Saturn opposition March 28 as markets acted like they were on a seesaw, moving strongly from one direction to the other depending on whether the news was bullish (Jupiter) or bearish (Saturn).

Monday begins with the Sun in Aries conjoining Uranus which can bring swift and sharp price movements that tend to be bullish although alignments with Uranus can bring sudden reversals and choppy trading. The Moon in Libra puts the focus on alliances/partnerships and the financial sector.

The USA experiences its Saturn return Tuesday while the Moon transits Pluto-ruled Scorpio (debt/taxes/secrets/nuclear issues) until after the close Wednesday. Mars in Pisces squaring the USA natal Mars square Neptune Tuesday and Wednesday could bring an escalation of military action that may contribute to market turbulence. Oil could make big moves as Mars (action) conjoins the degree where Uranus in Pisces (bubbles) was when oil prices reached record highs in July 2008.

The Moon in Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius Thursday puts the emphasis on global trade and geopolitics as the two day EU Debt Summit begins. The market is more likely to view things optimistically Thursday unless there is bad news connected to the nuclear radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi plant.

Monday, March 21, 2011
Positive but potential for an intraday reversal cannot be ruled out.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Negative.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Negative bias.

Thursday, March 24, 2011
Positive bias

Friday, March 25, 2011
Reversal from yesterday.

Endings Bring New Beginnings as the SuperMoon Shines on the Spring Equinox

It certainly was a beautiful sight to watch the Full Moon as it rose big and bright above the eastern horizon Saturday evening!

Events and announcements occurring at the time of the Full Moon always grab our attention as the Moon’s bright light acts as a giant spotlight that shines on events occurring around the Full Moon’s five day orb of influence.(1)

“Giant” is the word to describe this month’s Full Moon (March 19 at 2:10 PM EDT) since the Full Moon occurred at the same time the Moon was at its closest approach to Earth (perigee). Although the February 18 Full Moon and the upcoming Full Moons on April 18 and September 27 occur when the Moon is perigee, the Moon is closest to Earth at this Full Moon since December 12, 2008 and there will not be another perigee Full Moon this close until November 14, 2016.

With the turn of the calendar, March Madness began to get usurped by media Moon madness over the “SuperMoon,” a term coined by Richard Nolle to describe when perigee occurs around or at the time of the Full or New Moon.

Whatever you prefer to call this Full Moon, it has generated a lot of analysis and discussion as to whether it has any additional “meaning” beyond the fact that perigee Full Moons bring tides that are higher and lower than normal. Although there are many market watchers who incorporate the cycle of the Moon and other planetary phenomena into their forecasting, remarks made by CNBC Fast Money’s Karen Finerman that “I can’t think of a less relevant piece of information” (2) remain the norm.

This month's Full Moon is in Virgo, a sign ruled by Mercury. Unlike Gemini (the other sign ruled by Mercury) which loves to collect information just for its own sake, Virgo analyzes all this information to ascertain out what’s really relevant.

Full Moons don’t just grab our attention for their beauty. Gazing at the Moon stirs our emotions as the Moon represents our instinctual behaviors and the need for physical and emotional security. The Virgo Full Moon is the sixth consecutive and last Full Moon since October 22, 2010 occurring at the end of a sign. Longstanding events and situations are ending now as we move into new and unchartered territory.

A SuperMoon can increase the potential for increased geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, mudslides and sinkholes (especially since the Moon is in the earth element opposing the Sun in Pisces which is part of the water element in the sign that rules the sea).

The Full Moon at the end of Virgo reflects that Japan is faced with the enormous aftermath of an earthquake/tsunami that has already occurred. Virgo rules health/hygiene, schedules/routines, employment, and the armed services. The March 11 earthquake profoundly affected all of these things. The Moon rules food and water/liquids which are showing signs of increasing radiation levels that were released into the air from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Mercury is movement and rules commerce and exports which has been completely disrupted. Offices and factories are closed as millions are unable to get to work. The Moon opposing and the Sun conjoining Uranus the planetary energy of electricity which is sporadic or completely offline, reflecting the erratic and unpredictable energy of Uranus. The Sun and Mars in Virgo’s opposite sign Pisces reflect the sacrifices the Japanese people have already endured.

Beyond the geophysical effects are the geopolitical ones. On the eighth anniversary of “Operation Iraqi Freedom” a war that the U.S. seems unable to extricate itself from years after the justification for going to war was found to be false. Eight years later at the SuperMoon the U.S. has commenced “Operation Odyssey Dawn” together with coalition forces to according to the Defense Department, “protect the Libyan people from the country’s ruler.”

As the saying goes, “it always darkest before the dawn” which describes the darkness of night (endings) and the time to sleep (Pisces) disappearing as we awaken to the Sun rising to begin a new day. Waiting less than 24 hours for the most powerful time of the solar year when the Sun enters Aries the first sign of the zodiac and the sign ruling military action to commence these two Operations could have made a quicker and better outcome more likely.

As I described in the February 27 Weekly Forecast, the Virgo Full Moon “re-activates” the final opposition of Saturn in Virgo and Uranus in Pisces (April 26, 2010) that began on Election Day 2008, and the first (and only) opposition of Jupiter and Saturn (May 23, 2010) in Virgo/Pisces. The BP oil disaster, the “flash crash” and the European sovereign debt crisis were the major events at that time and none of them have been completely resolved.(3)

As the largest planets in our solar system, Jupiter (expansion/bullishness) and Saturn (contraction/bearishness) are the general economic indicators. Uranus is the wild card (the “black swan”) that creates shocks and unexpected events that increase volatility as markets suddenly reverse from one extreme to the other.

Unexpected disruptions (Uranus) create delays and shortages (Saturn) in the global (Jupiter) supply chain that awakens the world to how interconnected (Pisces/Neptune) the world has become in ways never imagined which is the big theme as Jupiter and Saturn oppose each other for the final time on March 28. For example, a $2.00 microprocessor manufactured in Japan could disrupt the production of a $30,000 car.

While lean manufacturing and just in time inventory management have greatly boosted efficiency and productivity (Virgo) over the last several years, safety stock and flexible sourcing combined with local manufacturing will now be in sharper focus. Geophysical and geopolitical shocks (Uranus) have begun to erode (Pisces) the cost savings. I have written many times about the restart of the U.S. as a manufacturing empire in the coming years, and it seems that the shift of Uranus from Pisces to Aries on March 12 (the day of the first explosion at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant) could be the shock that awakens U.S. and foreign companies to the benefits of manufacturing in the U.S. Rethinking the current global manufacturing model could begin when Virgo’s planetary ruler Mercury is retrograde March 30 – April 23 as more accurate information about the situation in Japan and its impact on the global supply chain is revealed.

As the Full Moon marked a culmination point and the ending of major planetary cycles, the Sun which is our life force and our will to survive and thrive, erupted a giant filament of magnetism and hot plasma from the southwestern part of the Sun. According to SpaceWeather.com, the blast eruption was not directed toward Earth, but the unsettled and explosive conditions on the Sun do represent the tumultuous events occurring on Earth now.

Spring in the northern hemisphere began March 20 at 7:21 PM EDT when the Sun entered Aries. At the Vernal Equinox the Sun shines directly on the equator and the hours of day and night are equal in length. Each day the Sun will move higher in the sky and the hours of daylight will increase and peak at the June 21 Summer Solstice.

As the first sign of the zodiac, Aries represents the start of something new as the confidence and creativity of the Sun synergizes with the courage and boldness of Aries to birth new initiatives. Far rarer than the closest SuperMoon to Earth is the Vernal Equinox Sun conjoining Uranus in Aries (March 21) (4) ushering in a new cycle of technological innovation and revolutionary changes. There is no planetary alignment that screams “new beginning” more than having these two planets conjoined at the beginning of the first sign of the zodiac! This alignment serves as a wakeup call as more individuals realize they are far more powerful than they have been led to believe.

The Sun conjoining Uranus describes leaders occupying center stage who are innovative and unafraid to break new ground, to those at the opposite end of the spectrum who are eccentric, defiant and dictatorial such as Muammar Gaddafi who is desperate to hold onto power past his expiration date as Libya’s leader. In which came first, the chicken or the egg debate (meaning would it have happened without U.S. and coalition forces intervening or not), the Sun and Uranus opposing the Gaddafi government in the Vernal Equinox chart set for Libya indicates that Gaddafi will be overthrown by opposition forces.

Aries is ruled by Mars which is eager to dive head first into new endeavors. With Mars in Pisces the sign of endings until April 2 (together with Mercury retrograde March 30- April 23), getting these new endeavors off the ground could be more challenging as there can be more confusion than clarity. Events unfold much more rapidly after Mars moves into its “home” sign Aries April 2 until May 11.

The Sun conjoining Uranus can create high winds, tornadoes, severe thunder and hail storms, and “freaky” weather conditions that could disrupt the power supply. While weather and temperatures are more prone to extremes with the Sun Mercury, Jupiter and Uranus in Aries, prevailing weather conditions could tend to be drier and warmer than usual especially after Mars enters Aries April 2. This can create droughts and fires (as well as greater potential for volcanic eruptions). In the chart for the Vernal Equinox erected for the USA, Mars is prominent in the Midwest through Memphis and south to New Orleans which could indicate these parts of the U.S. more susceptible to these conditions. The Eastern seaboard should be prepared for strong storms especially in New England and the Northeast that bring flooding and a lot of coastal erosion.

The Sun rules speculation and Uranus rules volatility which bring surprises that take the market further above or below support and resistance levels than expected, especially as Uranus rules the sector of the stock market in the Vernal Equinox chart set for the USA. As described in prior Forecasts, Jupiter opposite Saturn (March 28) is likely to take the market lower during the next few weeks before rebounding. Whether the market takes out the February 18 year to date top is debatable but it is likely that if the market makes new highs it could occur at the end of this cycle or in early summer. Venus conjoining Neptune in Aquarius (March 26) in the sector of the Vernal Equinox chart ruling the stock market reinforces the market volatility that could be driven by rumors and hype. Certain financial illusions could be shattered and the market could be affected by financial fraud and insider trading. Residential real estate prices could continue to decline in most parts of the country as the cost of home ownership rises.

In addition to Japan, Libya and the other Middle Eastern and North African nations that are already experiencing intense geophysical and/or geopolitical turmoil, other potential global hot spots prominent during the next three months are Central America, Venezuela and western South America, Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti/Dominican Republic. France, Germany, Italy (as the Sun and Uranus shake up Rome/Vatican City), Iran, Algeria, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan. China (especially central China), Koreas, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia.

Markets have a greater potential for more pronounced moves on or around the following dates:
March: 21-22, 24-25, 28, 30-31
April: 4-6, 8, 11-13, 18, 20-21, 25, 27, 29
May: 2-3, 9, 11, 13, 16-17, 19-20, 23-25, 27, 30-31
June: 1, 3, 6, 8-10, 13-15, 17, 20-21 (To be continued at the Summer Solstice which will cover the time period June 21 – September 22, 2011.)

(1) The two days preceding the Full Moon, the day of the Full Moon, and the two days following the Full Moon. Besides reactivating major planetary alignments, a Full Moon that is a Lunar Eclipse will tend to have a six month influence (or until the next Lunar Eclipse). Its influence will also get re-activated when a transiting planet forms a challenging alignment to the eclipse.

(2) See the video within the article. Thanks to a reader who brought this to my attention. Personally I find it even more disconcerting when women (who are biologically more attuned to the Moon’s cycles than men) are not receptive to the possibility of lunar influences.

(3) The EU is having a debt summit March 24-25. Just because the oil is out of sight at the bottom of the Gulf does not mean the problem was resolved as it will take years to uncover the health effects and environmental impact resulting from the spill.

(4) The last time the Sun conjoined Uranus in Aries at the Vernal Equinox was in 1676.

The Six Faces Of The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

Whether it is for an individual, nation, entity, or event, erecting a chart for a specific date, time, and place describes the planetary influences at its birth.

In my earlier post about “The “Coincidences” of Planetary Influences and Japan’s Earthquake/Tsunami,” I described the major planetary energies in play leading up to the March 11 earthquake, the nuclear plant explosion, and current and upcoming influences to Japan’s chart.

In that post I briefly described how these influences are affecting the #1 reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. With the crisis in cooling the reactors reaching a critical stage, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the charts of each of the six nuclear reactors since they all have different “personalities” as they were put into service at different times. (Click here for TEPCO’s chart for their dates of operation; unfortunately I have been unable to find any birth times for the plant and the reactors. Click here for a link to The New York Times page which regularly updates the status of each of the reactors.)

#1 Reactor:
As the first sign of the zodiac, Aries energy races to be the first to do something as it needs to be numero uno. So it’s not surprising that the Sun (self-identity) was in Aries when the #1 reactor was born. Aries rules the face and the Sun rules the heart; this chart is the “heart” and public image (“face”) of the entire Fukushima Daiichi plant which began operation on the same day as the #1 reactor.

Since the Sun is the “heart” and vitality of the chart as well as our most powerful source of energy, it is important that the Sun be strong and engaged in favorable relationships (aspects) to the other planets. Although the Sun’s energies are strong in Aries which is also the birth sign of reactors #3 and #5, the Sun squares Mars (the planetary ruler of Aries) in the birth charts of these three reactors. This increases the potential for problems with fires and overheating.

The #1 reactor was born with the Sun opposing Uranus (the ruler of uranium and electricity) in Libra and Pluto (plutonium/nuclear power) in Virgo, with Mars in Capricorn squaring Uranus in Libra. While Mars in Capricorn excels at overcoming obstacles, its energy is weakened by this alignment especially in this type of application as Mars is heat and Capricorn controls pressure and cooling. With the Sun, Mars, and Uranus in cardinal (action-oriented) signs, any adverse event is likely to rapidly unravel into a major attention-grabbing situation. This alignment increases the potential for unanticipated nuclear (Pluto) accidents and explosions (Mars square Uranus) caused by fire (Aries/Mars). In short, this is not the appropriate combination of planetary energies for the birth of a nuclear power plant!

The antidote to fire is water which is needed to keep the reactors cool. Water was in short supply when the Fukushima Daiichi plant was born as the Moon in Pisces is the only planet (1) in the water element. As mentioned in my previous post, Pisces rules the sea. After the earthquake knocked out the power, the tsunami knocked out the generators which are located below ground. Following last Saturday’s explosion in the outer containment building, workers flooded the reactor with seawater mixed with boric acid to poison (Pisces) the nuclear chain reaction.

#2 Reactor:
#2 was born when half of the planets were in the water element including the Moon in its “home” sign Cancer and Jupiter in Pisces. However, the Sun in Cancer squaring Uranus in Libra creates the potential for the water level to go to extremes. These energies can also bring sudden explosions and electrical supply disruptions.

On Monday (the day ruled by the Moon), water levels sharply dropped which left the fuel rods completely exposed. This was followed by an explosion on Tuesday. Although a power line from an external grid has now been connected to the reactor, there is the potential for an unanticipated malfunction emanating from its connectors (or from the way it was reconnected) to occur as the power distribution could be uneven.

Mercury in Cancer squaring Pluto in Libra when the reactor was born could result in some intense and emotionally charged discussions in deciding the best course of action to take particularly relating to the fuel rods. Controlling the temperature and getting an accurate reading from the temperature gauges could be a problem. With Reactor #2 born with Saturn (the cooling system) in Capricorn’s opposite sign Cancer, the cooling system is not particularly robust.

#3 Reactor:
This reactor began operation one day after the plant celebrated its 5th birthday. It has been widely reported that Japanese officials appear to be most concerned about this reactor as it is the only one at the plant that is loaded with mixed oxide (MOX) which includes reclaimed plutonium that has a higher radio-toxicity when released into the atmosphere.

The concern about the plutonium is reflected in the reactor’s birth chart which features a very similar planetary alignment to the #1 reactor and the plant itself. Both were born with the Sun in Aries opposing Pluto (in Libra). Like the #1 reactor, the Sun in Aries squares Mars which does not express its energies well here in Capricorn’s opposite sign Cancer. The heat of Mars tends to dry up all the water (Cancer).(2)

Mars squaring Pluto is a powerful and potentially deadly combination. Pluto rules death and reincarnation (recycling) and Mars rules weapons, reflecting that in a former incarnation the reactor’s fuel had been a nuclear weapon whose purpose was to kill.

#3 reactor was also born with Saturn in Cancer and Saturn exerts a more pronounced influence at this reactor as it was born when Saturn’s energies were extra powerful as the planet turned direct that day.(3) Jupiter in Taurus squaring Saturn at birth increases the potential that the problems emanating from this reactor will have a large scale impact. Taurus is the opposite sign of Scorpio (the sign ruled by Pluto), raising the potential for workers involved with this reactor to develop severe health problems that involve the thyroid, throat, chest, and bones which could become cancerous.

The Sun conjoining Mercury in Aries squaring Mars can result in snap decisions being made about the best course of action before all the ramifications have been carefully thought through.

Reactor #4:
This is the reactor that the U.S. seems to be most concerned about. Saturn represents fear which can turn into excessive worry in Virgo. Saturn rules history, and this reactor could remind the U.S. government of Three Mile Island as the #4 reactor’s Saturn in Virgo conjoins Saturn in Virgo when Three Mile Island went into meltdown. (The #4 reactor was born less than six months before that disaster.) The Health and safety of the workers as well as the risks to the health of the public - especially those living within the boundaries of the radiation zone (that the U.S. defined Wednesday as within 50 miles of the plant) - are the top concerns of Saturn in Virgo. Saturn rules the roof which was damaged after a fire following a hydrogen explosion.

The Sun and Pluto are conjoined in Libra, the opposite sign of Aries which weakens the Sun’s vitality (the reactor was offline during the tsunami). Libra is ruled by Venus which is in Pluto-ruled Scorpio. Venus in Scorpio together with the intense Sun/Pluto energy could indicate that financial considerations might have overridden safety considerations.

Mars works well in Scorpio, but its conjunction with Uranus increases the potential for a nuclear explosion and accidents involving uranium. The Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission told a Congressional panel Wednesday that the extreme (Uranus) heat (Mars) may have caused the water from the spent fuel rods (Scorpio) to boil off.

Reactor #5:
#5 as well as the #6 reactor were offline for maintenance during the tsunami. This is the third reactor born with the Sun in Aries squaring Mars (in Leo) (4), indicating that heat is a problem. Mercury in Aries opposite Pluto in Libra reflects the difficulty in keeping the temperature from rising which risks the spent nuclear fuel becoming exposed to the air (Libra is part of the air element.)

Reactor #6:
This is the third (see #1 and #4) reactor to be born when Mars and Uranus were engaged in a challenging alignment. Mercury conjoining Uranus in Scorpio and squaring Mars in fiery Leo can bring rising temperatures, explosions, and electrical problems.

Conclusion:
Despite the euphoria over getting the cable to the plant, it is only the first step on a highly dangerous and uncertain road ahead with no simple solution on the horizon. The more difficult task is connecting the cable to the cooling pumps adjacent to the reactor. The firefighters running the water cannons had to be at least 100 yards away from the reactors working for no more than one hour because the radiation levels at 50 yards were too intense.

The real issue is if it is even possible to have a human technician working close enough to the reactors to perform the actual task of connecting the cable. If the cable emits sparks, it is likely to ignite the hydrogen gas that’s been released.

In my previous post I mentioned that the Full Moon in Virgo which occurs on Sunday in Japan will conjoin the plant’s natal Pluto. Full Moons can mark a culmination or crisis point and the Full Moon in Virgo indicates the risk to public health is a concern. The Full Moon squaring Japan’s natal Moon in Gemini is an indication that the public within at least a 100 mile radius should leave their homes (Moon) and move (Gemini) as far away from the area as possible. The government needs to act quickly to arrange accommodations for those affected.

The Sun is about to be “reborn” at the Vernal Equinox on Monday (5) which is a public holiday in Japan to celebrate nature and pay respect to one’s deceased ancestors. The Vernal Equinox Sun conjoins Uranus in Aries which increases the potential for a breakthrough in figuring out how to get the cable safely connected. (Using a robot to do the job might be an idea.)

The Fukushima Daiichi plant turns 40 on March 26 on the day of the Last Quarter Moon in Capricorn which conjoins Pluto squares the plant’s natal Sun. The waning Moon together with Mars in Pisces about to oppose the plants’ natal Pluto could indicate that allowing the plant to go into meltdown mode might end up being the only viable solution unless some brave soul (Sun in Aries) is willing to sacrifice their life (Mars in Pisces). Uranus in Aries squaring Pluto in Capricorn over the next five years indicates the adverse effects of the world dealing with nuclear fallout have only just begun.

(1) Even though the Moon and Sun are luminaries, they are considered “planets” when interpreting their strong influence in earthly affairs.

(2) Mars transits the same sign about every 2 years. Mars will be in Cancer August 3 – September 18, 2011. From a weather perspective, Mars in Cancer can bring drought and problems with water supplies, while other areas get flooded out.

(3) Planets do not really change direction (in this instance from retrograde to direct motion), but appear to from Earth’s vantage point.

(4) Even though Aries and Leo are signs in harmony with one another as they are part of the same element (fire), they square each other by degree.

(5) March 21 at 8:21 AM LT in Japan.

Three Mile Island goes into meltdown: March 28, 1978 4:00 AM Middletown, PA. (The reactor was born September 2, 1974, time unknown.)

WallStreetWeather.net Forecast For Week Of March 14, 2011

Due to writing the post on Japan’s earthquake, this week’s Forecast will be brief. The three events of the week and weekend (Tuesday’s FOMC meeting, Saturday’s Virgo Full Moon, and next Sunday’s Vernal Equinox) will be addressed in separate posts this week as I get back in the groove of posting more frequently.

The major indices bucked the global trend by closing higher Friday although they were negative for the week. Monday begins with the Moon (sentiment) in its “home” sign Cancer which strengthens the lunar influences. With the USA Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter in Cancer, the Moon’s monthly transit in this sign tends to have a greater influence on U.S. indices.

Mercury in Aries exactly squared Pluto in Capricorn yesterday, reflecting news about the nuclear fallout from Friday’s earthquake is influencing the markets. Mars in Pisces forming a stressful alignment to Saturn in Libra raises concerns about the cost of repairing and rebuilding Japan’s infrastructure and its effect on economic growth.

Monday and Tuesday were noted in my Winter Solstice post as being a time of more pronounced market moves although it looks like most of the week could see its share of at least larger intraday moves. Although Monday’s planetary influences are negative, the lunar influences tend to be more positive which could manifest as the market doing better than would be expected under the circumstances.

The Moon moves into Leo, the sign of the Sun and speculation Tuesday afternoon through Thursday. Mercury conjoining Jupiter in Aries Tuesday (an alignment that will occur again April 11 when Mercury is retrograde* and for the final time on May 11) tends to bring news that generates optimism and possible announcements of exciting discoveries. But look out if the news fails to meet expectations as Jupiter will exaggerate its impact.

The Moon will be in Mercury-ruled Virgo Friday as Mercury opposes Saturn which could bring delays or difficulty in reaching a compromise on legislation, so Congress had better pass their temporary extension to keep the government funded through April 8 before Friday if they want to avert a Full Moon government shutdown! (Interestingly, the Mercury MESSENGER is scheduled to begin orbiting the planet Mercury at this time.)

As described in last week’s Forecast, the opposition of Jupiter (growth/bullishness) vs. Saturn (contraction/bearishness) is growing stronger. If we are to have any kind of pullback or possible correction before summer, the next few weeks are the most likely time before the bull in Taurus charges forward.

Monday, March 14, 2011
Negative

Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Reversal of yesterday but could weaken approaching the close.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Volatile/choppy; negative bias but could improve going into the close.

Thursday, March 17, 2011
Choppy session; mixed close.

Friday, March 18, 2011 (Quadruple Options Expiration)
Choppy/mixed to negative.

*Mercury will be retrograde in Aries March 30 to April 23. (I will discuss Mercury retrograde in a separate post; see this link for info on the last time Mercury was retrograde.)

The “Coincidences” of Planetary Influences and Japan’s Earthquake/Tsunami

Friday’s 8.9 magnitude earthquake that struck just off the coast of eastern Japan triggered a tsunami with waves up to 30 feet high which has now become Japan’s biggest crisis since World War II. The largest quake ever recorded in Japan set off a series of powerful aftershocks that triggered an explosion at one nuclear reactor and problems with others. 1,400 people are confirmed dead and over 1,000 people are believed to be missing from the earthquake.

The earthquake/tsunami was so powerful that it moved Japan’s main island by 8 feet. What happened in Japan affected everyone on this planet as the quake has caused the Earth’s rotation to move faster, shortening our day by an estimated 1.8 microseconds.

In response to the “many readers who asked,” a March 12 update on Spaceweather.com titled “Coincidences” stated “there is no known, credible evidence of solar activity triggering earthquakes.” This was a follow up to a March 10 statement on Spaceweather.com that the X1.5-class flare from Sunspot 1166 that provoked geomagnetic activity around the poles Thursday was “probably not enough for significant Earth effects.” Yet Spaceweather.com notes that today (March 13) is the 22nd anniversary of the Quebec Blackout which was caused by a powerful explosion on the Sun!

From Spaceweather.com’s readers to the market watchers who follow the Sunspot cycle (the Sun represents speculation), many people seek to connect what’s going on “above” to our world “below” because of the physical effect the Sun and the Moon have on the Earth. We know we would not survive without the Sun’s light, and the Moon’s affect on the tides as well as plant cycles is well known.

So while it cannot be proven that the earthquake/tsunami that struck Japan Friday was triggered by the geomagnetic storm from a Sunspot, a combination of planetary influences could increase the potential for such profound geophysical phenomena.

Financial markets are very slowly starting to awaken to the potential for geopolitical risk but have yet to factor in the potential domestic political risk (which for the markets would be the Republicans failing to accomplish their agenda to destroy all kinds of regulations). Geophysical risk has not even been on the radar screen.

Japan began experiencing foreshocks two days prior to Friday’s quake including a 7.9 foreshock 25 miles south of Friday’s epicenter - the day the solar flare erupted from the Sun. This was happening at the same time that Uranus the planetary energy of shocks and unexpected events was finishing up its almost 8 year sojourn in Pisces, the sign that rules the sea.

Planets shifting from one sign to another – especially the slow moving outer planets in our solar system – indicate the potential for major changes and dynamic events. This is especially true when planets are shifting from the last sign (Pisces) of the zodiac to the beginning of it (Aries). Half of the planets at the March 4 New Moon in Pisces the last sign in the water element indicated a greater potential for severe flooding. (1) Where such severe flooding might occur can potentially be indicated by where in the world the New Moon was rising, setting, above or below the Earth.(2)

The March 4 New Moon was rising directly over Sendai the city nearest to the earthquake’s epicenter; the New Moon, Mars and Pisces planetary ruler Neptune were rising over Japan which could indicate an event occurring that affects the entire Japanese nation and potentially the country’s physical appearance. This potential is further emphasized since Pisces symbolizes events affecting the collective.

As the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter represents big events. Jupiter in Aries is opposing Japan’s natal Saturn in Libra which reinforces their opposition in the sky this month. Oppositions represent opposing forces as Jupiter’s desire to expand meets Saturn’s need to contract as the planetary pair has reached the midpoint or “Full Moon” phase of their 20 year cycle.

Jupiter and Saturn represent issues that impact the global economy and their two previous oppositions (exact May 23 and August 16, 2010) occurred during times when major events rattled investor optimism, elevating concerns that the global economy’s recovery from the financial crisis was facing retrenchment.

The final pass of a planetary alignment tends to exert the strongest influence and will tend to have the greatest economic impact in countries such as Japan, the U.S., and Egypt that were born with Saturn in Libra and are experiencing their Saturn return. Although Japan experienced their Saturn return in October 2010, Jupiter is “re-activating” it now.

With Saturn-ruled Capricorn on the Ascendant (3) of Japan’s chart representing the nation’s image, Saturn’s energies of caution, conservatism, and the perception of deflation are highly prominent in Japan’s chart. Since Japan’s natal Saturn squares Uranus in Cancer and Mercury in Aries, any major transit impacting Saturn affects these planets as well. Uranus in the sector of “open enemies” causes a shock that impacts to the core Japan’s economic and societal structures which can throw Saturn’s careful planning out of balance when it is a sizeable enough attack the likes of Jupiter in Mars-ruled Aries. Saturn’s foundations were not fortified enough to withstand a potentially anticipated invasion coming from such a large scale quake/tsunami.

Even with Mercury strengthened by being in its “home” sector of Japan’s chart, Mercury’s opposition to Saturn and square to Uranus affected by Jupiter and Saturn now impacts Japan’s ability to export let alone conduct commerce, travel, and communicate domestically. Saturn in Libra will not complete its transit of Japan’s Mercury and Uranus until August. Starting one year from now through 2014 Pluto in Capricorn will begin to square Japan’s natal Saturn, oppose Uranus and square Mercury. Occurring at the same time Uranus in Aries squares Pluto in Capricorn in the sky (2012-2015), these influences reflect a long and challenging transition period to rebuild Japan’s vital infrastructures.

The Moon had just entered dualistic Gemini (Japan’s Moon sign) at the time of Friday’s earthquake, indicating the potential for the many aftershocks that followed. The Moon square to Neptune reflected the quake’s epicenter was at sea and the ensuing tsunami. The Moon in Gemini also describes the “dual disasters" befalling the public: an earthquake and tsunami that triggered multiple nuclear reactors to go into meltdown after the reactors backup generators were destroyed by the tsunami.

Uranus moving into Aries brought more unexpected shocks related to energy (4) which impact the nation as it squares Japan’s Capricorn Ascendant. Uranus rules electricity and Pluto rules nuclear power which supplies one third of Japan’s electricity. With Mercury in Aries squaring Pluto in Capricorn, it became a race against time to formulate a solution to prevent a complete meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi #1 reactor Saturday. With Pisces’ ruler Neptune in Aquarius the sign ruled by Uranus, the #1 reactor was shut down after workers flooded it with seawater! Besides ruling the sea, Pisces/Neptune rule poisons; workers added boric acid to the seawater to “poison” the nuclear chain reaction. Ironically, the #1 reactor was scheduled to be de-commissioned this month due to its age.(5)

The influence of Jupiter square Pluto (6) is quite evident here as the nuclear impact could end up being far bigger than anticipated, not only for the nation’s health and economic well being, but impact the global nuclear power industry. Jupiter represents events that impact on a global level and Pluto represents events that have a massive and transformative impact. The radioactive fallout could easily travel thousands of miles physically affecting other nations.

Although the U.S. market is at least initially viewing the earthquake/tsunami as a potential opportunity for U.S. multinationals to benefit from Japan’s rebuilding process, the final Jupiter/Saturn opposition is taking place right on the USA’s natal Saturn (Saturn return). Uranus in Aries is opposing the USA’s progressed Moon in Venus-ruled Libra, followed by Uranus squaring the USA’s natal Venus in Cancer raising the potential for unanticipated financial shocks.

Pluto rules debt, taxes, insurance, and corporate welfare. Pluto in Capricorn (2008-2024) reflects government debt at record highs. Japan’s public debt equals of GDP but most of its debt is held domestically. Although the USA’s debt to GDP ratio is about half that, most of its debt is held by foreigners with Japan the USA’s second largest debt holder after China. Japan’s earthquake could cause Treasury yields to rise as Japanese investors sell Treasury securities to raise cash to pay insurance claims.

Whether occurring in a nation’s chart or an individual’s chart, the Saturn return can mark a time of increased responsibility and hardship unless the individual or nation learned the lessons from the past and worked to create sustainable and secure economic and social structures. The U.S. has failed on both counts, always preferring instant gratification (Jupiter) over anything that would some take time to reap rewards. (Japan is a Saturn-ruled nation while the U.S. is a Jupiter-ruled nation that prefers to see the glass as half-full.)

Our infrastructure is falling apart and obsolete in many cases and we are ill-prepared for an earthquake/tsunami like Japan has experienced. By keeping most of the same regulators (Saturn) who were at the helm leading us into the financial crisis, there is a lack of accountability which raises the potential for a future financial crisis. Saturn last returned to its natal position in the U.S. chart in 1981 as Jupiter and Saturn (as well as Saturn and Pluto) were starting a new economic cycle. Now they are in the waning phase of their cycles which correspond to high debt levels and economic contraction/slow growth until both of these planetary cycles start new cycles in 2020.

Saturn in Libra the sign of balance until October 2012 means that no substantive action is likely to occur on tackling our enormous deficit (Jupiter in Aries) unless both political parties are willing to compromise. Big business (Pluto in Capricorn) has not prepared for any reduction in their entitlements.

The “as above, so below” principle helps us to see the interconnectedness in all things. Neptune’s energies dissolve borders and boundaries. The tsunami that followed Friday’s earthquake triggered high waves that killed a man in California as he foolishly tried to take pictures (Neptune/Pisces)! Wall Street trades on what it perceives to be the interconnectedness of things at any given moment all the time.

Is it mere coincidence that the earthquake triggered a tsunami warning in Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast not long after the House GOP had voted to cut funding for the National Weather Service which issues tsunami warnings while corporations that have accumulated record amounts of cash are given more tax cuts and exemptions? Did these politicians and their supporters ever think about what would happen to the U.S. economy if an earthquake/tsunami like Japan experienced struck California and shutdown the L.A. and Long Beach ports? It’s time someone in Washington started drawing up flow charts connecting all the dots to show how certain cuts could be catastrophic while other cuts/eliminations would be in our nation's best interest.

Unfortunately it has been through disasters that our innate sense of caring and compassion for others and our planet has been unleashed, only to retreat within when life reverts back to “normal.” The thing about elevating a “coincidence” to seeing the interconnectedness of ourselves to our Earth and our universe is that we then understand that we can work with these energies which can help to mitigate disasters. And within the next decade we will likely be able to efficiently harness the power of the Sun to supply a great deal of our energy needs.

(1) Although the Sun and Moon are luminaries, they are described as “planets.” Cancer and Scorpio are the other signs in the water element.

(2) Or for the Full or Quarter Moons, the Equinoxes and Solstices, or other major planetary alignments.

(3) The zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon when Japan’s full sovereignty was restored.

(4) Uranium was named for the planet Uranus.

(5) Ironically, the #1 reactor was scheduled to be decommissioned this month as it would turn 40 on March 26. Jupiter in Aries squares Mars in Capricorn and opposes the reactor’s natal Uranus (explosions), and the March 19 Full Moon in Virgo exactly conjoins the reactor’s natal Pluto (health problems caused by the radioactive fallout emanating from the reactor).

(6) Jupiter square Pluto: July 24 and August 3, 2010; February 25, 2011. This alignment has particularly correlated to the European sovereign debt crisis.

Pisces New Moon: March 5, 2011 5:45 AM JST Sendai, Japan
Japan: April 28, 1952 10:30 PM JST Tokyo
USA: July 4, 1776 5:10 PM LMT Philadelphia, PA

WallStreetWeather.net Forecast for March 6 – 14, 2011 “All About Oil” Edition

Summary Of Last Week’s Influences:
Pisces is symbolized by two fish swimming in opposite directions which aptly describe the market’s behavior last week. In spite of all the gyrations, the major indices still managed to eke out a slight gain for the week and are up 5% year to date.

Oil together with gas and chemicals, and the sea and the fish are ruled by Pisces and its planetary ruler Neptune. These energies also represent beliefs, illusions, and the interconnectedness of all things as Pisces and Neptune dissolve all barriers and boundaries.

The foggy mist can become quite thick when Pisces/Neptune energies are strong that it can obscure all fundamentals. Beliefs are based upon feelings which are influenced by mythology and propaganda that can drown out Pisces and Neptune’s intuitive and visionary faculties.

Crude oil has closed at $80+ per barrel since October 1 and $90+ most of the time since December 22. WTI crude has risen around 16% since February 22 which was the first trading day in the U.S. since the Sun (speculation) and Mercury (communication) entered Pisces, followed by Mars (action; aggression) moving into Pisces that evening. Planetary conjunctions represent a concentration of energies and the start of a new cycle. Before Mercury and Mars moved into Pisces the two conjoined each other February 20 as both conjoined Neptune in Aquarius which triggered an increase in action (Mars) in oil (Neptune) trading (Mercury).

February 22 was when Uranus the planetary energy of the unexpected and extreme movements that can generate sudden price spikes in both directions and a tendency for market reversals, reached the final degree of Pisces. With four planets in Pisces increasing to five at the March 4 New Moon, the protests extending to the oil rich nations in northern Africa and the Persian Gulf have pushed crude oil prices back over $100 a barrel to pre-financial crisis levels.

A planet in the 29th degree of a zodiac sign represents a cycle that is ending. And no sign represents endings more than planets at the 29th degree of Pisces, the final sign of the zodiac. Uranus was last at 29 Pisces May 2-27 and August 14-September 11, 2010. The “flash crash” and the European sovereign debt crisis erupted during the former time period which contributed to the market’s decline, while markets rose during the second time period as the Federal Reserve began to take steps to prepare for QE2.

Since there are no boundaries when it comes to Neptune and Pisces, it is easy to see the connection between oil prices and monetary policy. Oil prices have been climbing since the anticipation of QE2, with only the last 16% move related to Libya. This implies that the rise in oil prices has been primarily due to monetary policy as opposed to geopolitical events. This means that any tightening or perceived tightening of monetary policy would likely bring down oil prices regardless of what was going on in the Middle East, along with a collapse in stock prices.

Jupiter inflates as it represents the principle of expansion. With Jupiter in Mars-ruled Aries (January 22 – June 4), the sign that Mars is in gives an indication to what is inflating which is why together with the planetary lineup in Pisces that oil is inflating into a Pisces-ruled bubble.
Nobody can create asset price bubbles better than the Federal Reserve, first under Piscean Alan Greenspan and superseded by Ben Bernanke. (With Mars conjoining Neptune in people pleasing and Venus (money; banking)-ruled Libra, Bernanke has steered the Fed to the most accommodative policy in the central bank’s history.)

With his Sun in Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius opposite Jupiter in Gemini, Bernanke told Congress last week that “the recent rise in commodity prices will lead to, at most, a temporary and relatively modest increase in U.S. consumer price inflation.”

Yet it is the Fed’s ardent desire to generate more inflation in order to (theoretically) make the cost of repaying debt (from their last bubble as Uranus in Pisces the sign of EZ credit transited the sector in the USA chart ruling real estate) cheaper. Monetary policy has spiked the cost of food and fuel (which the Fed excludes from its inflation calculations) in the U.S. and especially abroad. The high cost of daily necessities has become the tipping point for millions of people to protest for regime change.

Inflation will continue to rise here and abroad as winter melts into spring and inflation rises with the temperature. What is keeping the protests in the Middle East spreading is that most of the people feel the situation has become so bad in their country that they have nothing to lose. Uranus entering Aries March 11 until 2019 is likely to embolden that point of view and encourage more people to wake up and demand revolutionary change as many of the old beliefs are shattered as Uranus in pioneering Aries gives birth to something new and different.

Summary Of This Week’s Influences:
Neptune has been in Aquarius since November 29, 1998 and for the first time has reached the 29th degree of Uranus-ruled Aquarius. Since Uranus entered Pisces on March 11, 2003, the two planets have been transiting each other’s home signs which have spiked the price of crude above its trend line. This setup will end when Uranus enters Aries Friday and Neptune enters Pisces April 4 until August 5.*

As the new week begins, the Obama Administration indicated it is considering tapping the strategic petroleum reserves to lower oil prices even though doing so only works if there is a physical shortage of oil which is not the case right now.

Uranus began its transit in Pisces right before the U.S. invaded Iraq. We’re still there with no end in sight as well as Afghanistan. Yet some members of Congress such as Sen. John McCain (who never met a war he didn’t like) are pushing for the U.S. to institute a no-fly zone in Libya despite Defense Secretary Gates telling Congress that a no fly-zone would constitute “an attack on Libya.”

To elaborate what I wrote in last week’s Forecast, the First Quarter Moon in Gemini conjoining the USA Mars and squaring the USA Neptune raises the potential for news and action involving the U.S. military even though it appears that the protesters could take control of Tripoli between March 12 and 18. Republicans want to cut the federal budget yet virtually none of them have advocated slashing defense spending and an immediate withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan. And Democrats when pressured enough have went along with that as military involvement abroad can be a great distraction to avoid tackling the tough domestic issues.

Pisces and Neptune are about going with the flow rather than struggling to swim against the tide. Even though the Administration appears to be supporting the despots ruling Bahrain, Saudi Arabia where the protesters scheduled “day of rage” March 11 occurs as Uranus in Pisces squares natal Neptune in Gemini as the Moon (sentiment) is in Gemini, indicating people gathering in groups in their neighborhood, Yemen, etc. due to their oil and other U.S. national interests, these regimes will ultimately be toppled. And when Iran falls it will clearly show that the people there demanded freedom from religion!

While the market is fixated on the price of oil and the Middle East, the growing social unrest in China as Saturn in Libra conjoins China’s natal Neptune and Mercury and Jupiter opposes them later this month. Presenting to the world the illusion that all is peaceful in China while the government arrests journalists and cracks down all forms of communication is something the market might want to be paying closer attention to now as inflation threatens to ruin China’s Neptune “dream.” With Pluto in Capricorn turning retrograde in April as it squares China’s natal Sun in Libra at the same time Mars in Aries squares the Sun, followed by Uranus in Aries turning retrograde in July squaring China’s natal Uranus in Cancer, the Chinese government is unlikely to be successful continuing to suppress social unrest.

This week could play out similar to last week as the obsession with oil is likely to continue. The market could be predominantly choppy as it tries to figure out whether to move higher or start pulling back. (With Jupiter opposing Saturn for the third and final time later this month I think the latter scenario becomes more likely.)

Monday, March 7, 2011
Could reverse from Friday later today even though oil and most commodities are likely to rise.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Choppy; closes mixed.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Mercury conjoining Uranus at 29 Pisces raises the potential for a reversal on the 2 year anniversary of the market closing at multiyear lows.

Thursday, March 10, 2011
Choppy to negative bias.

Friday, March 11, 2011
Improves as day progresses.

*Neptune will re-enter Pisces February 3, 2012 until 2026 for the first time since the oil industry was born in 1859. Neptune in Pisces indicates a new cycle is underway that will develop viable energy alternative(s) to end our addiction to oil before Neptune leaves Pisces.

CORRECTION (added 3/7/11 at 11:30 AM): Thanks to an astute reader, I have made two italicized additions that were originally missing from this post which should clarify any confusion:
1. Neptune enters Pisces April 4.
2. The Administration is considering tapping the S.P.R. to lower oil prices.